Lourdes France

[Ndemikwa]

I'm just wondering has anyone been to Lourdes France, I planing to go there next year is one of place I always wanted to visit.Any tips please how to navigate around by my self?
Many thanks

It's many years since I went but I used to go regularly to support disabled visitors on pilgrimages. From memory it's quite an easy place to navigate as it's pretty much built around the central Domain and there are so many visitors from around the world it's pretty easy to get about or ask for directions etc. There are a few steep areas, particularly if you walk the stations of the cross (many painful hours pushing wheelchairs up hills!).

Thank you so much for your reply I will be travelling alone this information really helps.

I wasn't sure what I was going to think of Lourdes as I'm not very religious but I can honestly say I thought it was amazing. We weren't staying in Lourdes itself but drove in twice, once during the day and once at night for the candlelit procession, which is a must. The whole atmosphere of the place is so welcoming and I felt very safe despite the crowds. Watching the pilgrims on their knees around the stations of the cross was so moving.
There's a huge amount of tourist tat on offer but its cheap tat so you don't feel you're being ripped off for candles and the like for the procession. I would go back if I was in that area again. Enjoy.

Omg it's sounds like very peaceful place I'm planning to go next year, this information helps me I'm bit worried to navigate around the area at night I will book hotel very close to The Sanctuary. Thank you so much for your reply

How does one get there? Travel/airport/taxi to
Lourdes itself?

There direct Flights from UK to Lourdes, but from me will be easier to fly to Toulouse airport then get a train to Lourdes and maybe taxi to the hotel , I hard everything it walking distance but not sure about this.

You could try reading information on this website. There's some basic guides to Lourdes.

I've also had this company recommended to me. The advantages of booking with either SOLL or Tangney tours is they can arrange for you to attend the English masses.

SOLL fund places as well, presumably in exchange for volunteer help. I think my friend said doctors go for free as they really need doctors. The pilgrimage goes at the end of May so plenty of time to plan for next year.

Final religious suggestion is to join your local diocese trip.

It seems there are very simple hostels to stay in which would be perfect for solo female traveller. Or would you go with a friend? Lots of places to stay in Lourdes.

If you just want to visit and aren't bothered about doing the pilgrimage things then I'd still read the above 2 websites as it will explain more about Lourdes.

Thank you I will check all your recommendations, yes I'm going for pilgrimage it's good idea to know all those details like English mass times and places to stay I'm going alone planning to stay 4 nights I'm not good of rushing around, 4 nights will be plenty of time.
I want to bring back holy water and share with people,

Hi
I strongly recommend you join a pilgrimage group if you're travelling from the UK. Many Catholic parishes organise trips to Lourdes and gladly accept people from outside the parish. The company Joe Walsh Tours is an Irish company operating from various parts of the UK & come highly recommended.
Lourdes is easy to navigate but it's better if you can join a group as per the above advice.

I went several times as a sixth former and absolutely loved it. We travelled as a group and as the previous poster said were there to look after a group of elderly/needy. I guess if you go as a tourist you can attend services but if you go as a pilgrimage you will be fully involved which is really amazing (or it was when I was 17🤣).

I've been many times, most of the hotels are fairly central so as long as you don't mind walking you won't have any problem. There are some very spectacular high stations of the cross which are on a steep hill. Near to the actual grotto there are stations of the cross which are beautiful statues all close together and on the flat. Be prepared for the town of Lourdes to be extremely tacky and touristy! However, the domain itself where the shrine and the candles are is absolutely beautiful. If you're not with an organised group don't be afraid to gate crash masses of other large groups – this seems to happen quite a lot! It's definitely worth participating in and also maybe watching the torchlight possession. You can watch it from above – there's a raised area and it's really spectacular to watch from there. Hope you have an amazing time!

You'll need a cab into Lourdes itself. Everything is walkable.

My opinion as a heathen who went there: Lourdes is a lovely place (the Château Fort Musée Pyrénéen is fabulous), apart from the strip leading down to where the religious action is, which is lined with the tackiest souvenir shops I have ever seen. You can buy an un-ironic squeezy bottle Pope with (presumably holy) water squirting out of the top of his head.

As a curiosity, there are about 4 or 5 authentic Sri Lankan restaurants. Sri Lanka has about 1.2 million Catholics and they seem to take a pilgrimage to Lourdes as seriously as Muslims do the Hajj.

Thank you everyone for all of this useful information and advice.